Method and apparatus for the interruption of silver supply in open end spinning machines

ABSTRACT

Sliver supplied to a combing machine and/or to an open end spinning machine is clamped closely adjacent to the line of contact between a driven supply roll and a resiliently engaged cooperating loading device, the distance between the contact line and the clamping location preferably being less than the average staple fiber length in the sliver. Such sliver clamp, when actuated, simultaneously separates the loading device from the driven supply roll, and when such clamp is released the supply of sliver to the separator is resumed automatically.

United States Patent Landwehrkamp [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE INTERRUPTION OF SILVER SUPPLY IN OPEN END SPINNING MACHINES [72] Inventor: Hans Landwehrkamp, Gerolfing,

Germany [73] Assignee: Schubert & Salzer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, lngolstadt, Germany 22 Filed: 0ct.l9,1970

21 Appl.No.: 81,731

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 13, 1969 Germany ..P 19 57 014.0

[52] US. Cl. ..57/81, 57/58.95, 57/83, 57/87, 57/156 [51] Int. Cl. ..D01h l/22, D01h 1/12 [58] Field of Search ..57/34 R, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 57/86, 87, 19, 156, 58.89, 58.91

[ 51 Oct. 3, 1972 [56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,019,587 2/ 1962 Weiss ..57/84 2,61 1,230 9/ 1952 Saunders et a1. ..57/87 1,305,540 6/ 1919 Hanscom et a1. ..57/87 1,840,642 1/1932 Stone ..57/84 2,886,941 5/1959 Bahnson, Jr. ..57/87 3,439,488 4/1969 Bucil et al ..57/58.89 X

Primary Examiner-Wemer H. Schroeder Attorney-Robert W. Beach [57] ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE INTERRUPTION F SILVER SUPPLY IN OPEN END SPINNING MACHINES The present invention relates to methods and devices for interrupting the supply of sliver to open end spinning machines in which the sliver is fed from a I supply device to the spinning device, and to apparatus for carrying out the method. v

If an open end spinning machine is stopped, it is important that the supply of sliver into the spinning mechanism or apparatus be simultaneously interrupted so that blockage of the spinning means is avoided. This will necessarily occur when all spinning stations are stopped together, since by actuating the main switch all drive units are deprived of their supply current.

If, however, only individual spinning devices, for example for control purposes or following a breakage of the yarnbeing spun by such device, are to be stopped, it is necessary to stop the supply of sliver to the corresponding spinning device individually.

In accordance with a prior proposal, for each spinning device a coupling was to be provided on the drive shaft common to all spinning devices, for the draw-in roll of the individual feeding device, the coupling being actuated by a main control device (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,354,626) or by the yarn monitoring means (see US. Pat. Nos. 3,355,869 and 3,375,649). It has, however, been found that such couplings or clutches are liable to break down and, as a consequence, it is not possible to interrupt sliver supply and thereby to avoid with certainty blockage of the spinning chamber and the combing or separating means. Such stoppages are found in practice frequently to cause damage to these parts. Furthermore couplings or clutches are expensive and require careful setting and servicing.

One aim of the invention is to avoid such disadvantages. Therefore it is a principal object of the invention to provide a method and a simple apparatus which ensures with certainty immediately upon switching off a spinning device no further fibers pass into the spinning device.

The present invention provides a method for interrupting the supply of sliver in open-end spinning machines in which the fiber sliver is supplied from a feed device to the spinning device, interruption being brought about by clamping the fiber sliver immediately upstream from its entry position into the feed device so that the fiber sliver can no longer continue to pass into the feed device. In order to increase the effectiveness of the method it is possible, simultaneously with the clamping of the sliver upstream from the entry position into the feed device, to interrupt the load at the inlet position into the feed device.

Furthermore, the present invention provides apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention, which includes a sliver feed device, a clamping device for holding back the fiber sliver immediately upstream from its entry position into the feed device, and a stopping device adapted to actuate the clamping device. The retaining action can be enhanced by providing that the clamping device and a loading part of the sliver supply mechanism are simultaneously actuated at the entry position into the feed device so that an even more rapid interruption of sliver supply into the spinning device is achieved. Preferably in this A construction which is particularly simple and compact in design can be achieved in accordance with the invention by providing the feature that the loading part and the gripping part are arranged on a common axis. For improving the supply of sliver the gripping or clamping part preferably has a sliver guide means arranged on it. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, the loading part is constructed as a feed plate which can be resiliently pressed against the draw-in roll and the gripping part is in the form of a hooked, center-pivoted lever. The end of the hook carried by one arm of the lever forms a gripping or clamping face which can be pressed against the feed plate while the other arm of the lever is connected with the clamp-actuating plunger, by which the clamping surface can move the feed plate clear of the draw-in roll.

In performing the method of the invention the feed device need not be stopped in synchronism with stoppage of individual spinning devices so that a coupling is not necessary and the inherent disadvantages of such coupling are consequently avoided. The gripping or clamping device can be controlled in a simple manner pneumatically, hydraulically or electromagnetically. Furthermore the device in accordance with the invention requires few components in its construction and for this reason is substantially less subject to breakdown.

In what follows the invention will be described with reference to a few examples, only parts necessary for understanding the invention being shown.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an apron drafting mechanism with the gripping or clamping device in accordance with the invention with parts in section.

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a modification of the clamping device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section through sliver supply and separating means showing a further embodiment of the clamping device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a section through a further construction of the clamping device in accordance with the invention as used with a modified feed device.

FIG. 5 is a section through a still further embodiment of the clamping device in accordance with the invention.

In the present invention the use of couplings or clutches for the sliver draw-in means and their inherent disadvantages are avoided because the sliver is clamped at a point immediately upstream from the inlet to the feeding means when an individual spinning mechanism is stopped. As a' result it is not necessary to disconnect the feeding device from its drive, so that it is possible to use a continuous shaft for the feeding devices for several spinning stations.

For carrying out the method in accordance with the invention the particular construction of the feeding means is basically not important so that any conventional feeding device can be used in conjunction with the gripping or clamping device in accordance with the invention. The feeding device may have a draw-in roll possibly in conjunction with an apron, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The draw-in roll can extend along all spinning stations on one side of the machine. A loading part of the feed device can be an idler or loading roller, an apron or a feed plate.

FIG. 1 shows a gripping device in accordance with the invention-in conjunction with a conventional apron drafting mechanism. The apron or bolt-type drafting mechanism has two delivery rolls 3, 30, a draw-in roll 1, driven by a main drive which is not shown, and driving an apron 10, and a presser roll 2, which is driven by friction from the draw-in roll 1 through aprons l and 20. For each apron there is also provided, in a conventional manner, a deflecting rail 11 or 21. The sliver B drawn out and opened in the apron drafting device is fed to the open end spinning device 4, for example in the form of a rotating spinning chamber, a rotating electrostatically charged funnel or any other collecting surface, or to a spinning tube, in which it is spun to form yarn or thread.

If the supply of sliver to a spinning device is to be interrupted without the other spinning devices ceasing to operate, the fiber sliver B is clamped at a position immediately upstream from the entry position into the feeding device so that such entry position can automatically pick up the leading end of the sliver when the clamp is released. Alternate forms of the gripping or clamping device for holding the sliver B are illustrated in the drawings.

In accordance with FIG. 1 a stationary abutment 50 is provided closely adjacent to the idler roll 2 against which a driven clamping part 5 can be pressed. The clamping part 5 is pivotally mounted on a stationary support 51. The clamping part 5 is swung into clamping relation to the stationary abutment 50 by a push rod or plunger 53, which is driven by a drive means 52. The casing of such drive means also serves as a mount for support 51. The plunger drive device 52 may be a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnet or the like. If the device 52 is an electromagnet the push rod 53 serves as an armature.

In accordance with the construction shown in FIG. 1,

the support 51 also serves as a mount for a sheet metal guide 54 for guiding the sliver B The device whose structure has just been described functions in the following manner. During normal operation the gripping or clamping part 5 is spaced from the abutment 50 so that the sliver B is supplied from a sliver supply, for example from cans, by the apron drafting device to the spinning device 4. If all spinning devices are to be stopped simultaneously, it

naturally follows that the sliver feed will also be inter rupted so that the clamping or gripping device does not have to be actuated. On the other hand, if the sliver supply to only one spinning device is to be stopped while the other spinning devices of the machine continue to operate, as many be necessary for example for checking or in the case of breakage of the yarn, the drive device 52 actuates the push rod 53 which presses clamping part 5 against the stationary abutment 50. The fiber sliver B is thus held fast between the abutment 50 and the clamping part 5 so that no more fibers F can pass into the apron drafting device.

In order to ensure that the fibers F remaining in the apron drafting device beyond the clamping location are not transported into the spinning device, the clamping device can be constructed in accordance with FIG. 2.

cooperates with the belt 20 and the idler guide roll 2 inf stead of with the stationary abutment 50. Movement of the plunger 53 not only moves the gripping part 5 to clamp the sliver by pressing it against the idler roll 2, but such plunger has a stroke sufficient to raise such roll and belt 20 away from the draw-in roll 1 against the action of a tension spring 27. The fiber supply is thus interrupted at a still earlier point in time than is the case with the construction in accordance with FIG. 1

In order to supply the sliver B centrally into the draw-in device it is convenient if a sliver guide means is arranged upstream from the draw-in device. Preferably the guide for the sliver is combined with the gripping part 5 in accordance with the invention. In accordance with FIG. 2 the gripping part 5 has a U-shaped sliver guide 56 mounted on it, although it is also possible to construct the sliver guide means in the form of a funnel-shaped passage 63 through an arm 62 of the sliverclamping lever as shown in FIG. 5.

The application of the method in accordance with the invention is not limited to drafting mechanism supply arrangements, but can also be used with advantage in the case of combing roller feeding devices. An embodiment of this is shown in FIG. 3. In a housing 31 the combing roller 32 is mounted in a conventional manner. At the inlet position of the feeding device there is a driven draw-in roll 1 and an idler presser roll 23 mounted on a pivoted lever 22. The lever 22 is acted upon by a compression spring 24 normally pressing roller 23 against the draw-in roll 1, by which it is caused to rotate. A gripping or clamping part 55 is attached to a push rod 53, which, in a manner similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, is actuated by a drive device 52.

In principle the operation of this device is as previously described. If during stopping of combing roller 32 the clamping or gripping part 55 is actuated, it presses against the presser roll 23 and lifts it clear of the drawin roll 1 against the action of the spring 24. As a result the sliver B is clamped between the presser roll 23 and the clamping element 55 and the frictional engagement between the draw-in roll 1 and the presser roll 23 is simultaneously interrupted so that the roll 1 and the presser roll 23 cannot supply any more sliver or fibers F to the combing roller 32.

If desired the presser roll 2, the deflecting rail 21 and the apron 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 could be supported on a pivoted lever 22 similar to the mounting of presser roll 23 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, in which the draw-in roll 1 is associated with a feed plate 25 pivotally mounted at 27. If the clamping head 6 of the push rod 53 is pressed by the drive device 52 against the feed plate 25 in order to interrupt the supply of sliver, the sliver B is clamped between such head and the feed plate 25. Furthermore the feed plate 25 is swung against the action of the compression spring 26 about its pivot 27 to interrupt the clamping action between the draw-in roll 1 and the feed plate 25, so that, in this case also, the supply of sliver stops instantaneously.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the pressing element and the clamping element can be mounted for movement about a common axis. This arrangement efiects an economy in space required and materials used for manufacture of the device. Furthermore relative movement between the feed plate 25 or the presser roll 23 and the clamping part is avoided.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, the draw in roll 1 is again associated with resiliently supported, pivotable feed plate 25. The clamping part 64 is the end of one arm of a hooked center-pivoted lever, which lever is pivoted on the pin 27 on which the feed plate 25 is also pivoted.

A tension spring 61, having one end connected to the lever arm at the opposite side of pivot 27 from the hooked clamping end 64 and the other end connected to the housing 31, holds the lever arm 60 in abutting engagement with the push rod 53 of the drive device 52. The lever arm above pivot 27 is a crank arm including an upright portion 62 having a sliver funnel passage 63 through it and terminating in a hook having a clamping end 64.

This construction is particularly compact and clamps the fiber sliver B upstream from the draw-in roll 1 while simultaneously swinging the feed plate 25 away from the draw-in roll so that the gripping action at the inlet of the feeding device is interrupted although driven roll 1 continues to rotate. In this manner in the case of individual stopping of a spinning device an extremely rapid interruption of the supply of sliver is achieved.

In the case of all embodiments of the invention described, the drive device 52 is arranged to -be controlled by a yarn breakage detection or monitoring device (not shown), so that breakage of the yarn or thread energizes the drive device 52 and thus actuates the clamping element 5, 55, 6 or 64. When the breakage in the yarn has been repaired, the breakage monitoring device deenergizes the drive device 52 again and plunger 53 is withdrawn to return the clamping element 5, 55, 6 or 64 to its inactive position.

Additionally, for each spinning device it is possible to provide a manual switch (not shown) for deenergizing each spinning device individually and simultaneously energizing the drive device 52 for the clamping part 5, 55, 6 or 64.

I claim:

l. The method of interrupting the supply of a fiber sliver to open-end spinning machines including fiber sliver feed means having a driven roller and resiliently mounted loading means engageable therewith, separating means for separating the fiber sliver into individual fibers, and spinning means receiving such fibers for spinning into the tail end of a thread, which comprises the steps of the fiber sliver at a location immediately upstream from the engaged portions of the feed means driven roller and loading means, raising the loading means out of engagement with the driven roller, and separating the sliver portion beyond the clamping location and which is within reach of the separating means into individual fibers and supplying such fibers to the spinning means by continuing to drive the driven roller, the separating means and the spinning means.

2. An apparatus for an open-end spinning machine having a spinning means for spinning individual fibers into a thread and a separating means for separating a fiber sliver into individual fibers and guiding these fibers to said spinning means, comprising feed means for feedin the fiber sliver to the separatin means including a nven roller and resiliently moun ed loading means normally engageable with said roller, clamping means located immediately upstream from said feed means and operable to clamp the fiber sliver, means for disengaging said loading means from said driven roller when said clamping means is in its sliver-retaining position, and control means for actuating and deactuating said clamping means.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, in which the control means is operable to effect conjointly sliverclamping movement of the clamping means and movement of the disengaging means for disengaging the loading means from the driven roller and the control means is further operable to effect conjointly release of the fiber sliver from the clamping means and movement of the disengaging means for reengagement of the loading means with the driven roller.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, in which the loading means and the clamping means are pivotally mounted on a common axis.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 2, the clamping means carrying the fiber sliver guiding means upstream from the sliver clamping location.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the loading means is a feed plate, the clamping means is a center-pivoted hooked lever including a first arm having a hook with a clamping end pressable against said feed plate, and a second arm swingable by the control means.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, the control means being both operable by an electrical connection with a thread breakage detector and manually operable.

22x 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,695,022 Dated October 3. 1972 Inventor(s) Hans Landwehrkamp It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page and column 1, line 2 of the title, change "SILVER" to -SLIVER- Column 6, line 2, after "of" insert --clamping--; line 38,

cancel "the"; line 40, cancel '1" and insert --2--; line 46, cancel "1" and insert --2-. Y

Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1973.,

[SEAL] Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. The method of interrupting the supply of a fiber sliver to open-end spinning machines including fiber sliver feed means having a driven roller and resiliently mounted loading means engageable therewith, separating means for separating the fiber sliver into individual fibers, and spinning means receiving such fibers for spinning into the tail end of a thread, which comprises the steps of the fiber sliver at a location immediately upstream from the engaged portions of the feed means driven roller and loading means, raising the loading means out of engagement with the driven roller, and separating the sliver portion beyond the clamping location and which is within reach of the separating means into individual fibers and supplying such fibers to the spinning means by continuing to drive the driven roller, the separating means and the spinning means.
 2. An apparatus for an open-end spinning machine having a spinning means for spinning individual fibers into a thread and a separating means for separating a fiber sliver into individual fibers and guiding these fibers to said spinning means, comprising feed means for feeding the fiber sliver to the separating means including a driven roller and resiliently mounted loading means normally engageable with said roller, clamping means located immediately upstream from said feed means and operable to clamp the fiber sliver, means for disengaging said loading means from said driven roller when said clamping means is in its sliver-retaining position, and control means for actuating and deactuating said clamping means.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, in which the control means is operable to effect conjointly sliver-clamping movement of the clamping means and movement of the disengaging means for disengaging the loading means from the driven roller and the control means is further operable to effect conjointly release of the fiber sliver from the clamping means and movement of the disengaging means for reengagement of the loading means with the driven roller.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, in which the loading means and the clamping means are pivotally mounted on a common axis.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 2, the clamping means carrying the fiber sliver guiding means upstream from the sliver clamping location.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the loading means is a feed plate, the clamping means is a center-pivoted hooked lever including a first arm having a hook with a clamping end pressable against said feed plate, and a second arm swingable by the control means.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, the control means being both operable by an electrical connection with a thread breakage detector and manually operable. 